UMinho Launches Innovation Alliance with 11 Institutions 

The University of Minho (UMinho) launched the UMinho Innovation Alliance this Tuesday at its Guimarães campus, a collaborative network bringing together 11 institutions from the North of Portugal, five of which are based in Guimarães. 

The ceremony was attended by Adelina Pinto, Councilor of the Municipality of Guimarães, UMinho’s Rector Rui Vieira de Castro, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Eugénio Campos Ferreira, as well as representatives from partner entities, the CCDR-Norte, and the National Innovation Agency. During the session, UMinho also introduced the Innovation Portal, a platform reinforcing the university’s commitment to transferring knowledge to the business and industrial sectors. 

According to Eugénio Campos Ferreira, in a statement to Lusa news agency, the establishment of this network will allow institutions to “gain scale and dimension,” facilitating internationalization and infrastructure sharing among entities operating in areas such as digital technologies, sustainability, and material production. 

The UMinho Innovation Alliance includes seven technology and innovation centers, namely: the Computer Graphics Center (CCG), the Innovation Hub for Polymer Engineering (PIEP), the Technological Center for the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal (CITEVE), the Center for Nanotechnology and Smart Functional Materials (CeNTI), the Center for Waste Valorization (CVR), the Institute for Innovation in Fibrous and Composite Materials (Fibrenamics), and the Industrial Technological Interface Center (CITIN). Additionally, it features a collaborative laboratory in Digital Transformation (DTx), the “CoLab,” and two interface institutions, including the University-Business Association for Development (TecMinho) and the Agro-Food Competence Center for the Meat Sector (TECMEAT). 

The primary goal of this alliance is to complement skills and resources to accelerate the development of new products, processes, and integrated systems, ensuring their transfer to the industry. 

This collaborative network represents another step toward consolidating Guimarães and the Minho region as hubs of innovation, strengthening the region’s ability to attract investment and drive technological progress in strategic economic sectors. Furthermore, this initiative aligns with the region’s sustainable development strategy, promoting the digital and ecological transition of local industries. 

For more information, please refer to the official statement from the University of Minho. 

📸 Photo: UMinho